Mukul Choudhary said his only focus during the chase was to stay till the end, a plan that ultimately helped Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pull off a thrilling last-ball win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 15th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Chasing 182, LSG were under pressure in the final overs, but Choudhary held his nerve and turned the game around with fearless hitting. He smashed crucial sixes in the closing stages, including two in the final over, to take his team over the line.
“My aim was to bat till the end and see what happens. It was only my second match. God has given me this opportunity. There can be pressure, but it is also a chance to make a name for myself,” Choudhary said after being named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 54 off 27 balls.
Choudhary also reflected on his journey in cricket. “My journey started when my father was not even married; he had dreamed that his son would play cricket. I started at the age-group level, but there were no good academies in Sikkim. I played matches in Delhi and Gurgaon, and that helped me,” he said.
“When I was playing in the U-19s against UP, it was a low-scoring game and I made a contribution. That’s when he knew I would make it big,” he added.
The youngster also highlighted his natural attacking approach. “I liked the first six the most. I had not hit a six in the previous two games, so the first one was special. In my mind, I knew that one of the four balls would be in the slot, and I was just waiting for it,” he said.
“Since my younger days, I have liked hitting sixes rather than playing along the ground,” Choudhary added, underlining the aggressive mindset that powered LSG to victory.
LSG captain Rishabh Pant was full of praise for the youngster’s performance. “When you see him in the nets, you can tell the ability he has. But when someone does it in a match like this, I have no words to describe it. What a fantastic effort,” he said.
Pant also highlighted the importance of backing players. “One thing I make sure of is trust. As a captain and as a team management, having trust in players plays a big role. It shows character — in every match someone is putting their hand up. Something good is building for sure. We don’t want to talk too much about it, but something good is cooking,” he added.
Meanwhile, LSG registered their second win of the season with the victory over KKR. They will next face Gujarat Titans on Sunday at their home ground, Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
(IANS)
